Two Facebook groups have been formed to voice concerns over local roads.

The A82 Pothole Group, administrated by Martin Pawsey, and the A87 Pothole Group, formed by Heather Knowles, have been created to list potholes, assemble evidence on the state of the roads, discuss damage to vehicles and share the success rate of any claims made.

The A82 runs from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William. The A87 runs through Kyle of Lochalsh, across the Skye Bridge and through Kyleakin, Broadford and Portree, before terminating at Uig.

Heather Knowles stated in the A87 group: "The more information we can get, the better our chances are of getting some effective repairs done.

"Like the A82 Pothole Group page, this is not a "Bear-bashing" page or a page to criticise the men who work on our roads. This is a group for motorists who feel strongly about the state of repair of the A87."

Kate Forbes MSP has said she hopes that the Scottish Government's new Islands Bill will promote islanders' voices when it comes to healthcare provision in Skye and Raasay.

Despite repeatedly lobbying NHS Highland for solutions for both areas, the Isle of Raasay remains without adequate overnight cover and the suspension of out-of-hours services at Portree Hospital is occurring more often.

Describing it as "the most important legislation introduced for island communities", Kate Forbes MSP believes the new laws could help reverse depopulation.

In another significant development for the Final Straw campaign, Waitrose has told Kate Forbes MSP that it will banish all plastic straws by September.

It comes days after Asda pledged similar action, as public pressure intensifies on supermarket chains to step up the fight against the scourge of plastic pollution.

In her speech in the Holyrood chamber yesterday (7 February), Ms Forbes also paid tributes to the 11 local authorities across Scotland who are supporting the aims of her campaign, as well as the many public bodies – such as National Museums Scotland, the ScotRail Alliance and the Scottish Parliament – who have all committed to taking action.

Ms Forbes has now pledged to turn the focus of her campaign onto private companies, such as bars, cafes, fast food outlets and restaurants.

A dilapidated primary school on the Isle of Skye without a safe drinking water supply has never featured on the Highland Council's list of "priority schools for investment", a letter from the Scottish Government has revealed.

Skye MSP Kate Forbes recently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Education John Swinney, along with parents and pupils from Broadford Primary School to highlight the plight of the ailing school building.

Pupils, the parent council, the local community council, Skye councillor John Finlayson and Ms Forbes have repeatedly made the case for a new school.

In response, Mr Swinney said that Highland Council had received £63m towards the cost of school projects through the Government's Scotland's Schools for the Future initiative.

The Deputy First Minister added that the beneficiaries of the £63m "were identified by the Highland Council as its priority schools for investment and at no point has the Highland Council approached the Scottish Government to seek funding towards the redevelopment of Broadford Primary".

North Skye Broadband, a “not for profit” community organisation, has scrapped its plans for rural ultrafast broadband because of Government funding constraints.

NSB said yesterday (Friday February 2) that “it is with huge regret” it had to abandon the plan.

NSB is a community organisation set up in 2015 to provide ultrafast broadband services to homes and businesses in communities across North Skye where no commercial provider has any plans to do so.

It said it “has been forced to abandon its “fibre to the premises” (“FTTP”) pilot/demonstrator project – intended to provide ultrafast fibre-based broadband connections to around fifty premises in the Glendale area of Skye – as a direct consequence of the Scottish Government’s “R100” initiative.”

Last summer, after nearly two years of abortive efforts to secure funding for an ultrafast FTTP network covering north Skye, NSB withdrew its State Aid Application to Community Broadband Scotland because it became clear that community broadband schemes are ineligible for State Aid funding.

Holyrood has become the first parliament building in the UK to ban plastic straws.

In response to a letter from Kate Forbes MSP, who has been spearheading the Final Straw campaign, the Scottish Parliament’s Corporate Body (SPCB) confirmed that it has eliminated all plastic straws at its restaurants and bars, and will now only hand out paper ones on request.

It is understood that Holyrood’s catering outlets were using around 4,000 plastic drinking straws a year.

Kate Forbes MSP said: “Whilst I’m campaigning for public bodies and businesses to ditch plastic straws, its important I start close to home and so I’m delighted that the Scottish Parliament has stopped stocking plastic straws and will only give out a biodegradable alternative when requested.

“The Scottish Parliament has long lead the way on environmental initiatives, and this is obviously another way in which it is striving to improve what it does.

“If the Scottish Parliament can do this, then I hope it encourages more councils and other public bodies to follow suit.

Highland Council has been urged to abandon plans to cut secondary school teacher numbers after the Scottish Government pledged at least an extra £7.5m to the local authority as part of its Budget deal.

Kate Forbes MSP said that with the extra revenue (for teachers) and capital (for school buildings) settlements, Highland Council now had to sort out woefully inadequate premises as well as abandon its austerity programme.

The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch spoke out after scores of constituents voiced their concerns about Highland Council's plans to chop teacher numbers in the region.

Enforcement of waiting restrictions and other parking measures for Skye in the months ahead were being discussed today (Feb27).

A Highland Council report before the Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee made it clear that while police may no longer be responsible for enforcement the local authority is looking at options.

They said: “The criteria for enforcement resources are such that the service must be delivered cost neutral. The allocation of staff in the Skye area is an unknown at this time and it will require live assessment of the demand for enforcement to ensure adequate and efficient allocation of resources that does not defund any other part of the service.

Skye's pint sized power lifter Fiona MacDonald has proved herself a record breaker.

For in one week-end she has taken the weight lifting world by storm and returned to her Uig home with a string of record breaking achievements.

Fiona travelled to Kings Lynn in Norfolk to take part in the British Drug Free Power Lifting Association's event and proved to be unbeatable in the Full Power category which involves dead lift, back press and squat.

As well as taking the overall title she Fiona, who only weighs 50 kilos, managed a staggering 105 kilos in the dead lift to set a new British and World record, 45 kilos in the back press which was a British and European record, while in the squat, her 62.5 kilo effort earned here a British and World record.

Police have made a new appeal for information following a pedestrian's death in Caithness.

Timothy Humphreys, formerly of Eynort, Isle of Skye, was struck by a car on the A836, near the A99 junction and the Seaview Hotel, at about 11:40pm on 17 February.

The 34-year-old, who lived in John O' Groats, died at the scene of the collision as a result of his injuries. The road was closed until Saturday morning to allow a full collision investigation to take place.

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anyone Mr Humphries on or near the A836 between the A99 junction and Newton in the hour leading up to the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information and hasn't already been in touch with officers is urged to contact Police on 101.

Police in Portree, Isle of Skye, are seeking assistance from members of the community to identify a vehicle believed to be in the local area.

Constable Jani Kari-Koskinen said: "Around 5pm yesterday (Thursday 23rd February 2017) concerns were raised by a member of the public for the wellbeing of occupant(s) of a green or blue coloured car with darkened rear windows and a roof box, which was parked within the Co-op car park on the town's Dunvegan Road at the time."

"In order to ensure the occupant's wellbeing, officers are keen to trace the vehicle described and would appeal to anyone who has information on the car to make contact with officers on 101. We would also appeal to the occupants/owners to make contact directly."

Skye is urged to show its Scot Spirit as biggest community event since the Jubilee to be held across the UK in June.

Tens of thousands of community get-togethers are being planned and The Big Lunch is calling on communities in Skye to get involved over 17-18 June.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall hosted the launch at Clarence House as patron of The Big Lunch, one of the founding partners of The Great Get-Together, alongside The Jo Cox Foundation and dozens of other community groups, NGOs and faith groups.

The Great Get-Together will take place over the weekend of June 17 and 18. People are being invited to come together with friends, neighbours and others they don’t yet know for street parties, picnics, barbecues and bake-off competitions. It follows the first anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder on June 16 last year.

Skye-based filmmaker, Chris Young, is set to announce plans for a new Script Development Programme, which will benefit new writers, producers and directors working in film and television.

Chris is set to make the announcement in his keynote speech at the Glasgow Film Festival's Industry Focus event this Friday (24 February 2017.)

The programme will be operated and run by new company, Young Film Foundation.

The Foundation is currently seeking appropriate funding partners and Young hopes to launch formally and open for applications later this year. The Foundation will focus on script and project development with a remit to seek out and identify new and aspiring writers, producers and directors. It will nurture their talents through a programme of workshops, seminars and mentoring over a week-long residency in Skye.

These proposals follow on from changes made in January where further feedback since those changes has lead to some further improvements being brought forward. Other changes are as a result of the now completed tender process carried out by Highland Council.

The proposed timetables are available online now at stagecoachbus.com. The company is encouraging customers to review the proposals and share their thoughts, whether in support of the revisions, highlighting any concerns or sharing any other ideas customers may have on services offered.

NHS Highland is advising young people aged between 16 and 18 to get vaccinated against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) due to the Men W bacteria.

The Men ACWY vaccine was introduced to the national immunisation programme in 2015 for young teenagers and ‘fresher’ students going to college or university.

This was in response to an increasing number of cases of Men W disease seen across the UK. Older teenagers are at high risk of infection because many of them mix closely with lots of new people, some of whom may carry the bacteria.

Those aged 16-18 currently still at school will be offered the vaccine through the school programme due to commence shortly.

The award will fund the employment of a full-time gardener and part-time Community Engagement Officer. It will also fund the purchase of equipment and seeds, needed to enable the supply of fresh local produce to Raasay Community store and R&B Distillers.

Alex Ellis-Roswell will today (22 February 2017) be making his way from Mallaig to Armadale.

Depending on the weather, Alex plans to walk from Armadale, through to Broadford, Sconser and Carbost.

Alex would greatly appreciate offers of accommodation in the South Skye area.

In 2014, Alex set himself the challenge of walking round the coasts of Britain and Ireland to raise money for RNLI. To follow his personal updates, visit his Facebook. His fundraising link can be found here.

Alex Ellis-Roswell will soon be walking across the Isle of Skye in a bid to raise money for RNLI.

Alex has undertaken a challenge to walk 9,500 miles round the coast of Britain and Ireland. Since starting from his home in Kent on 3 August 2014, Alex has raised over £33,000 and only has one more year of walking until he completes his challenge.

Alex was recently in the Outer Hebrides as he walked the islands in January.

From 1 April 2017 the Scottish Government is changing the basis on which properties are assessed for Council Tax and this will increase the charge for Council Tax properties that are banded E to H.

The Highland Council has no discretion in this matter and must apply these increases to the Council Tax charges from 1 April 2017. Households living in properties in Bands A-D are not affected by these increases.

In addition to the increase in Council Tax set by the Scottish Government on properties falling within Bands E to H, The Highland Council has been given the flexibility to increase Council Tax on all properties, Bands A to H, by up to 3% from 1 April 2017. Council Tax legislation, set by the Scottish Government, determines any increase must be applied to all Bands in A to H.

At the meeting of the Highland Council on 16 February 2017 it was agreed to increase Council Tax on all properties by 3% from 1 April 2017.

Police in Caithness can confirm the identity of the man who sadly died as a result of a road traffic collision on Friday evening as Timothy Humphreys, known to many on the Isle of Skye.

Timothy, aged 34, lived in John O'Groats, but grew up and spent many years on the Isle of Skye.

The collision occurred around 11.40pm on Friday 17th February on the A836 at near the Seaview Hotel and junction with A99.

Very sadly, Mr Humphreys was struck by a car and died at the scene as a result of his injuries. The road was closed until 7.45am on Saturday morning to allow a full collision investigation to take place.

Skye's Alannah Pheutan received the award for Best Comedy at FilmG's award ceremony on Friday 17 February.

Her winning entry, Gaidheal Gu Luath, set out to create a perfect treatment to generate the perfect Gael. Alannah also received the much-anticipated People’s Choice award.

FilmG is MG ALBA’s (the Gaelic Media Service) prestigious Gaelic screen talent awards, which this year attracted a record number of entries and was streamed live to audiences around the world.

The ceremony was held at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow and hosted by Fiona MacKenzie, face of BBC ALBA, and Niall Iain Macdonald, TV & radio presenter. Live entertainment on the night was courtesy of four-piece band, INYAL, fresh from performances at Celtic Connections and The Highland Annual.

12 hours of non-stop swimming - that is the challenge Hannah Wilson and Tara Lancaster have set themselves.

In a bid to raise money for charity, Lucky2BHere, and Macdiarmid Primary School, the friends started training in January for the event, which will be held on Thursday 29 June from 8:00am-8:00pm at the Fingal Centre in Portree.

Ceumannan, the Staffin-based ecomuseum, will join forces with museums in Portugal and Costa Rica as part of an international project led by the University of St Andrews.

Known as EU-LAC-MUSEUMS (Concepts, Experiences and Sustainability in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean) and funded by the European Union, the idea was conceived during a meeting of ICOM (the International Council of Museums) in Paris and will include studies into female migration between Caribbean islands and an international touring exhibition on art and migration, as well as questions of community empowerment and sustainability in remote areas.

Two sections of the A9 near Pitlochry and the House of Bruar are set to be upgraded starting later this month following an investment of over £600,000 from Transport Scotland.

Improvements to the two stretches of the route will take place first at the northern end of the Ballinluig dual carriageway near Pitlochry followed by works to a section of the road at Clunes Lodge, to the north of House of Bruar.

The works will involve strengthening and resurfacing the road to make it more durable and resilient during the colder winter months, as well as providing a smoother and safer road for road users.

Council chiefs have given the green light to move polling stations to five schools on Skye.

From May this year Kilmuir, Staffin, Dunvegan, Carbost and Kyleleakin Primary schools will all become the voting place for locals. All other polling stations will continue as before.

The decision comes after a review of Polling Places during which the public, politicians, community groups and those with expertise in access to premises for disabled people were invited to comment on the existing and proposed changes arrangements for Polling Districts and Polling Places.

Nine local high schools, including Portree, Plockton and Mallaig are being targeted as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

The event runs from March 6-10 and the aim of the annual campaign is to show that apprenticeships work for businesses, individuals and the economy.

Developing the Young Workforce West Highland are teaming up with Skills Development Scotland, to visit each of the schools at Portree, Plockton, Gairloch, Ullapool, Kilchuimen, Mallaig, Ardnamurchan, Lochaber and Kinlochleven, during the Week, to help spread the word about the benefits of apprenticeships with school pupils.

Inner Sound bring their version of “The Little Sweep” to Sleat on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February.

A children’s opera in one act for all the family. It lasts for 1 hour with no interval and this is the first production with the cast drawn entirely from younger members.

Inner Sound is a group of enthusiastic and energetic folk who love getting together to indulge in their passion for singing. Most of our members come from Skye and Lochalsh, although there are a few who travel from as far as Inverness to join in the fun.

He might be down under but Skye's Kenny Gillies has got his thoughts firmly set on home.

However, it's not so much that he is missing the place but that he makes sure a charity event to be staged in Portree later this month turns out to be a real success.

Speaking from Australia, Kenny said: "Last October I lost my uncle Duncan Mackinnon to Huntington's disease after suffering from it for a number of years.

"Unfortunately since then two of his three daughters, my younger cousins have been diagnosed with the same condition. Last year I also held a charity ceilidh this time for Crohn's disease on behalf of my sister and brother in law and raised the massive amount of £4600.

He might be down under but Skye's Kenny Gillies has got his thoughts firmly set on home.

However, it's not so much that he is missing the place but that he makes sure a charity event to be staged in Portree later this month turns out to be a real success.

Speaking from Australia, Kenny said: "Last October I lost my uncle Duncan Mackinnon to Huntington's disease after suffering from it for a number of years.

"Unfortunately since then two of his three daughters, my younger cousins have been diagnosed with the same condition. Last year I also held a charity ceilidh this time for Crohn's disease on behalf of my sister and brother in law and raised the massive amount of £4600.

A project to stabilise a section of a rock slope opposite Loch Ness on the A82 approximately three miles north of Drumnadrochit is now underway.

The £226,000 investment from Transport Scotland will involve removing sections of the rock face close to the roadside and installing specialist netting and bolts across the rock to secure and stabilise the slope face.

It may not look it but work is now well advanced to give Skye's most famous ferry a major facelift.

As part of major restoration proect a variety of improvements are being done on MV Glenachulish including replacing the old wheelhouse with a brand new one before she resumes her service from Glenelg to the island.

The highly anticipated awards ceremony for Scotland’s national Gaelic film competition, FilmG, takes place at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on Friday 17 February.

Following on from the success of last year, which saw the awards streamed online for the very first time, FilmG fans and followers will once again be able to watch the prize-giving event live online.

This year, FilmG will also have the welcome addition of backstage videos where winners share their thoughts and excitement with FilmG fans online. Among those chatting with our team backstage will be long time FilmG supporter Danny MacAskill, who’s recent ‘Wee Day Out’ video became an internet sensation.

The ninth year of these awards also sees the return of FilmG’s popular Gaelic Instagram competition with the live stream ensuring that attendees and viewers watching at home, will be able to enter on the night.

Visitors to the Skye Book Festival this year are in for a special and unusual treat.

Not only will they hear the story of a 17-year-old Highland boy named Roddy Macrae who committed a triple homicide around 1869. They will also see and hear the author, hosted on stage by his uncle, himself much celebrated in Scottish literary circles.

Graeme Macrae Burnet, the author of Roddy MacRae’s story, His Bloody Project, was born and brought up in Kilmarnock but his mother, Primrose, was from Lochcarron. Her brother, and Graeme’s uncle, is Alasdair MacRae, now retired as Senior Lecturer in English Studies at the University of Stirling where he taught for over thirty years, and the man who became Stirling’s first Makar in 500 years in 2008.

A new documentary on BBC ALBA, Riches of the Loom / Trusadh - Beairteas na Beairt, combines a fascinating glimpse into the history of Harris Tweed with an insight into the unique imagination of Sharmanka, the Russian art group, as they create a new artwork using a loom from Harris.

In early 2016 a family of Russian artists, Tatyana Jakorskaya, Eduard Bursedsky and their son Sergey, arrived in Lewis to begin a fascinating artistic journey. Together they are Sharmanka, a group which creates art installations comprised of moving sculptures accompanied by sound, music and light. Roddy Murray, Head of Visual Arts and Literature at An Lanntair, commissioned Sharmanka to create one of their famous kinetic theatre pieces using a disused Hattersley loom, to give their unique artistic take on the story of Harris Tweed.

Roddy Murray said: “Harris Tweed has been the most significant industry in the islands apart from fishing. The Hattersley loom was synonymous with Harris Tweed from the 1920’s onwards. I remember hearing the clicks of the Hattersley looms in so many houses on my way home from school. This was a tradition of the islands but it was also an important source of jobs.”

Glasgow Life and Sleat's Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are embarking on a unique collaborative placement to look at Gaelic Arts from urban and rural contexts.

This will see Glasgow Life’s Gaelic Arts Producer being based at the Gaelic college in Skye for a period of up to 12 weeks in the early part of 2017.

The placement takes place as both organisations look afresh at their strategic plans for their Gaelic Arts programmes over the coming years. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is preparing to develop an Arts & Cultural strategy while simultaneously Glasgow Life, having recently completed an independent review of their work over the last three years, is carrying out consultation within the arts sector on their new Gaelic Arts Strategy [2017-20] for Glasgow.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has welcomed the pledge by Scottish Government to put in place an action plan to address the failures highlighted by the governance review of the Crofting Commission.

“The governance review of the Crofting Commission, instigated by Scottish Government at our request, has exposed many weaknesses in basic operating procedures and in how the organisation copes with extraordinary individual behaviours”, said Russell Smith, Chair of the SCF. “The review has made it clear that a robust Commissioner appraisal process is required, to help identify and deliver ongoing training and skills development. We are particularly keen to see a rationalisation of the roles of Commissioners, establishing when they should be delegating to the executive staff or referring to other bodies that have the required expertise. Commissioners should have a strategic and advisory capacity only. It is clear that they got too involved with executive procedures that they did not have the competence or remit for.

Overnight travellers on the A82 pasing through Tyndrum will face a convey system and traffic lights as road improvement works begin later this month.

Resurfacing to a section of the route just under a mile in length is scheduled to take place overnight from Sunday 19 February for up to two weeks, which will create a smoother and safer journey for motorists.

The works will take place each night from 7pm to 7am, Sunday nights to Friday mornings, for two weeks. No works will take place on Friday or Saturday nights to further limit the impact to motorists.

Following on from their recent Housing Open Day, Glendale Trust is moving on with its aim to have more affordable homes in the area

Now, all those with an interest, are being asked to take part in a short online survey.

They say: "The Trust is looking into providing affordable housing opportunities within Glendale and following on from our recent open day we would like to gauge local support for the project and would be grateful if you could please read the information provided and complete this short survey.

In the spirit of fairness, openness and partnership working NHS Highland is calling on Highland councillors to consider their budget allocation very carefully before making a final decision .

David Alston, chair of NHS Highland, said: “I am disappointed in the proposal to reduce funding to NHS Highland for adult social care. While the Highland Council faces difficult decisions, as do NHS Highland. The reality is that their income - the net revenue budget - will increase in 2017/18 by more than £5m, from £555.731m to £560.911m.

“In these circumstances it would be reasonable to expect, in the spirit of previous years' agreements, that adult social care would have been given the same priority as before and that funding would remain the same.”

The question is: "What does A.C.E. Target Sports founder, Matt Harrison, have planned for this piece of land?" The answer could win you a chance to try the latest activities he plans to add to the target sports experience.

The Kyle of Lochalsh lifeboat was called out to rescue a fishing boat yesterday (Sunday 12 February.)

At the request of the UK Coastguard, the lifeboat was launched at 3:14pm to aid the broken down vessel. The boat contained two people and was drifting towards the southern shore of the Applecross peninsula.

Kyle lifeboat was involved in a dramatic rescue to bring a stricken fishing vessel safely back to port.

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon (February 12) after the alarm was raised by UK Coastguard.

Before the lifeboat arrived a vessel belonging to marine aquaculture company, Johnson Marines, the "Viking Atlantic" is believed to have been first on the scene and gave shelter to the stricken vessel until the RNLI team were in position.

Police on Skye put out an appeal on social media over the week-end to try and track down a white Fiat camper van said to have been involved in "incident" near Sconser about 1700 hours on Sunday 12th February 2017.

The vehicle, whose registration possibly starts VX56, may still be in the area and possibly has damage to the rear.

The campervan has a cream coloured cab and the word “Swift” marked above the front windshield together with the word “Lifestyle” and two stripes running down both sides of the vehicle. The vehicle is believed to have damage to the rear.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen this vehicle or who may have information regarding the driver or occupants. The vehicle may be parked up overnight or travelling in the Inverness or Lochaber area.

Police can be contacted on 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800555111.”

They’ve woven their magic once more and the latest creation from Roger and Andrea Holden, inspired by a scene from their Glendale home, is there for all to see.

For the owners of Skye Weavers have produced the very first sample of their brand new tweed, the Glendale Check and soon it will be available to buy.

It was back in August of last that the couple announce a competition challenging photographers to produce images that portray the colours of Glendale. The revealing of their favourite seven images coincided with Wool Week, which celebrates the wonder of wool.

Highland Council's under threat Countryside Ranger and Access Team has been removed from the cuts hit list.

There was widespread concern when the local authority said it was considering axing the popular service. Now though Councillor Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson has confirmed that it will be retained in the council’s budget proposals for 2017/18.

She says the Council has listened to representations from members of the public and organisations about the authority’s Countryside Ranger Service and Access Team.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has asked the Crofting Commission to take urgent action to improve performance in crucial areas.

A full action plan including prioritising work to deliver the necessary improvements in the way regulatory cases and Board proceedings are managed will be delivered in response to the findings of the Governance Review.

The Crofting Commission Governance Review highlighted a range of areas that need urgent action including:•Governance standards, procedures and other arrangements, at both executive and non-executive levels, to underpin effective decision-making, particularly in relation to the Bohuntin, Upper Coll and Mangersta Common Grazings cases [Note: The review did not look at the regulatory decisions themselves] •Arrangements for handling conflicts of interest•Ensuring that capacity building and development needs of Board members are met and that the necessary training is provided.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “This review highlights notable and worrying failures in the governance of the crofting commission which must be improved immediately. That is why I have asked the new Chief Executive to urgently prepare an action plan to take this forward.”

A three percent Council Tax rise and job losses are among some of the measures being considered as Highland Council seeks to balance its books.

The Council’s budget gap for 2017/18, the difference between required expenditure and income, is £20.344m. Budget proposals include increasing the rates to generate additional income of £3.510m. Together with savings agreed by Council in December 2014 and February 2016, a budget gap of £10.410m remains.

The Administration Budget Group have been working with officers to develop new proposals to bridge the remaining budget gap.

An estimated 66.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts will be deleted in order to deliver these proposals along with 55.2 FTE posts associated with the savings from previous years.

Local fitness guru Sam Crowe has taken the first steps to help others improve her running.

From next month she is set to start up "The Running School" which, in her own words, is for "anyone who wants to get better at running."

The sessions, to be held at Skeabost, are designed to show fun ways you can improve your pace on hills and the flat. Helping you learn how to fuel your training, showing you how to make your body injury supportive of your running and cut your injury risk

Anti-bird flu measures will continue after the end of the month but government officials have announced some easing of restrictions.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has confirmed that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for all poultry and captive birds will remain in force until the end of April.

However, while the current Prevention Zone remains in place until 28 February, the requirements of the zone will be amended after that point, meaning that keepers will have the option of letting their birds outside, provided that they put in place enhanced biosecurity to minimise the risk of infection from wild birds.

The tragic beaching of a pod of whales on Skye has been used to help scientists learn how underwater synthetic noises affect marine life.

Staff from the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme worked with scientist Maria Morell to study the inner ears of dead whales, including long finned pilot whales that died in a mass stranding on Skye.

Twenty-two whales got into difficulties in shallow water on Brogaig Beach in June 2015. Despite efforts from volunteers and coastguard personnel, seven of the animals died or had to be euthanized - including a female and her unborn calf.

Great interest from Katharine Worsley from Great Days Travel Group at the launch of CalMac’s Travel Trade Product Planner 2018 with Ian Fox

While Skye's visitor attractions wait to find out how the island's Mallaig -Armadale ferry service operates this year after problems caused in 2016, Calmac is already planning for the future.

After a reports of a significant drop in organised coach tours particuarly to south Skye caused by last summer's far from reliable ferry service, the company are going out of their way to encourage similar visits to the island with the launch of their Travel Trade Product Planner...for 2018!.

According to Calmac the popular planner has been developed over the years and has been widely praised by the travel trade industry as an invaluable and creative reference tool – in some cases better helping them to understand the geography of the area, together with hints and tips about what to see and where to go.

Following on from their planning application to Highland Council Portree and Braes Community Trust are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified local contractors who wish to provide quotations for the installation of temporary public toilets at Portree Pier.

The works will involve siting the unit, installation of pipeworks, plumbing and electricity. Contractors may submit prices for all the works or for individual trades. It is expected that the facilities will be in place in time for Summer season 2017.

To some shinty is an art form in its own right but now Skye Camanachd, its players, traditions and culture are to be captured on canvas as part of a celebration of the sport.

For the Camanachd Association and Highland Print Studio have announced that four shinty clubs, including Skye Camanachd, have been selected to take part in a joint project which will see an artist working with each club over the next 18 months to create a series of prints celebrating the contemporary culture and heritage of Scotland’s iconic indigenous sport of shinty.

The successful clubs are Beauly, Fort William, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd. Each artist will work with their selected shinty club and with the help of players, fans and volunteers, will learn about the club, past and present, and produce artworks that will become a visual legacy for the club.

The opening of Raasay’s new distillery has moved even closer with the arrival of its bespoke stills from Tuscany.

R&B Distillers, the company behind the new facility, are still expecting the distillery, which will have an adjoining visitor centre, have set themselves an April deadline to begin distilling and hope to be fully operational by this summer.

Meanwhile they have also announced the second batch of their lightly peated single malt whisky, Raasay While We Wait which, in its own way, will pay tribute to one of the island’s most famous characters, Calum Macleod.

The Crofting Commission today welcomed the announcement from the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP, of the appointment of James Scott as a Commissioner of the Crofting Commission from 1 February 2017.

Bill Barron, Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, said: “I would like to welcome James to the Commission and we look forward to working with him. James’s expertise in conservation and interest in making crofting attractive and accessible to new and young entrants will be extremely valuable to the Board.

Parts of Staffin’s precious past have been preserved thanks to the involvement of local native Gaelic speakers.

Recordings of several locals recollecting changing times in the north of Skye have now joined a national archive which aims to ensure that generations to come will be able to discover more about not just historic events but the day to day lives of those who came before them.

Staffin Community Trust/Urras an Taobh Sear teamed up with Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o’ Riches to capture the views, memories and thoughts of older members of the community in autumn last year. The result was a range of subjects being discussed in the lively oral recordings which are now available on the SCT’s local history section.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) will hold its 2017 Annual Gathering, with the theme ‘Crofting's Place in Europe’.

The event, to be staged at Applecross on March 10 and 11, aims to set a crofting agenda for the upcoming Brexit negotiations and a post-Brexit agricultural policy that is fit for crofting.

“The importance of the topic is reflected in the attendance of two members of the Scottish Government Cabinet,” said Russell Smith, chair of the SCF. “On Friday the Cabinet Secretary responsible for crofting, Mr Fergus Ewing MSP, will officially open the gathering with an address placing crofting in the context of Scotland’s rural development. On Saturday Dr Michael Russell MSP, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, will open the day and the session on generating priorities for the Brexit agenda.

ATLAS Arts is inviting applications from artists interested in researching and developing a contemporary memorial to acknowledge the crofters’ troubles in Staffin in the 1880s.

The proposals, being worked up in partnership with Staffin Community Trust (Urras An Taobh Searwill ),form a series of temporary pilot commissions that contribute to an awareness and understanding in the local community of the potential positive impacts and benefits that a commissioned public artwork/contemporary memorial can have.

It is seen as a unique opportunity for artists – local, national and international, to develop ideas for a context-specific artwork.

Atlas Arts say: "We are seeking artists who will demonstrate imagination and sensitivity in challenging perceptions of what a contemporary memorial to a historical event can be."

Temporary traffic lights are to be installed at the A9's Slochd Summit bringing short, single file traffic sections for a seven week period.

The Summit is one of the highest points on the trunk road at 401m (1,315ft) above sea level and is one of 12 sections of the A9 being upgraded from single to dual carriageway between Inverness and Perth. The work gets underway on Monday 13 February.

Formal planning permission is being sought which will see the ground floor of Portree's Somerled House converted into a restaurant together with the erection of side and rear extension, replacement of ground floor windows & doors, installation of gas tanks, access ramp and repainting of building.

Meanwhile on land at The Pier, Quay Street, Portree temporary five year permission is requested for the installation of a pre-fabricated two cubicle unisex public toilets. The application is being made by Portree and Braes Community Council.

Two Sleat artists and a third from Plockton are off to the States to show off their skills.

Aird based Heather McDermott, reknowned for her jewellery, together with potter Patricia Shone of Ardvasar and Gilly Langton, whose jewellery business is based in Plockton, leave later this month to exhibit in the prestigious American Craft Show in Baltimore.

ORGANIC Sea Harvest, the company which is planning to build four new fish farms at sites off Staffin and Kilmaluag, is to consult with the local community.

On Friday 10 February, from 9am-9pm, a public drop in session is to be staged in Staffin Community Hall. The aim is to allow the company to provide more information about its site plan and overall development.

Organic Sea Harvest wants to grow salmon organically in sites off Tote and Lealt and then process them, including labelling, at a building on a land site in the Staffin area. This could create significant permanent employment for the area.

Highland Council's Budget Leader, Cllr Bill Fernie, has welcomed the news that as a result of the budget deal agreed by Scottish Government, there will be a reduced cut to local authorities

He said: “The deal effectively reduces our budget gap from £26 million to £20 million. This has meant that we have been able to reconsider some of the severe cuts to services and third sector groups which were necessary before.

“We have looked carefully at all the savings and have done our best to reduce savings where we can to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities. This means that we can significantly reduce the savings which were proposed for Childcare and Early Learning. Also, some of the cuts to the £4 million funding which goes to third sector groups which provide valuable children’s services, such as Action for Children and Barnardos, will now not be taken.

Representatives from the bird industry this week met Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing to discuss the on-going response to the heightened risk of Avian Influenza.

The current Prevention Zone, which is in place until 28 February 2017, applies to all poultry and captive birds in Scotland, and requires keepers to continue to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate practical steps to keep them separate from wild birds. There is also a GB-wide ban on poultry shows and gatherings. While there have been no cases confirmed in captive birds in Scotland, there have been several cases in England and Wales.

At the meeting on Wednesday, Mr Ewing discussed the current risk of Avian Influenza and options beyond 28 February, including the enforcement of biosecurity measures, with representatives of NFUS, free range egg producers, the British Retail Consortium and the Gamebird and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Young Skye artists are being urged to make their mark and maybe win a cash prize.

The Highland Child Protection Committee (CPC) is a group of people who work together to try and make sure that every child in Highland is safe. This includes the Police, Social Work, Health and Education along with partners who work in our local communities.

Now they are looking for a new logo that helps people understand what the Child Protection Committee does and have set out to find a new logo which they wanted designed by a young person and that other young people would relate to. The winning entry will receive a £50 voucher and a prize for their school or youth group.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) welcomed the high number of nominations for the Crofting Commission elections citing it as a very positive sign for crofting.

“The number of people willing to stand as candidates for the forthcoming Crofting Commission elections is very heartening,” said Russell Smith, Chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation. It shows that crofters care about the survival of crofting and the Crofting Commission. There is a resilience within the crofting community and the will to move on.

"On the closing of the nominations last Friday, a total of 16 candidates have stood for election. There are 3 contesting East Highlands, 5 contesting South West Highlands, 4 contesting West Highlands - which includes Skye&Lochalsh - and 2 contesting the Western Isles. Caithness & Orkney and Shetland put up one candidate each so there will be no need to hold elections in those constituencies.

Highland Council and Play Highland are urging school groups, charities and community organisations to apply for a £1,000 Play Award before the 17 February deadline.

The Council, in association with Play Highland, are offering the award to the group, organisation or community that has done the most to promote play. The annual award is presented by the Play Improvement Group, which works to promote self-directed free play with daily access to the outdoors.